Website owner: James Miller
On effecting change in a person’s basic nature
Yesterday I heard a country music group singing a moralistic song about the desirability of a future utopia in which mankind renounced all war and lived in peace (an antiwar song). My reaction was this: the song is all impractical, wishful thinking; an exercise in foolishness. Talking of a world in which there is no more war is like talking of a land where there is no heartbreak or sorrow. Why is this? The reason is due to the cause of wars. The cause of wars comes from man’s basic nature. To have a world in which there was no more wars, you would have to change the basic nature of all men. The problem here is that a person cannot change someone else’s basic nature to make them good and virtuous. Any such change in a person’s basic nature must come from within himself. The initiating and propelling force must come from within the person himself, out of serious desire to change. He has to do it himself. No one can do it for him. And accomplishing this feat is not easy. Why? All men are naturally inclined toward sin, foolishness and error. The way of sin, foolishness and error is the easy road. It is the way of the crowd and people are natural followers. Everyone wants to fit in, be accepted, be part of the group. No one wants to stand alone or risk the criticism of the group. So, to fit in, people take on the outlooks, attitudes and values of the group. The way of virtue and goodness is the difficult road. It involves the pursuit of truth and understanding and this pursuit dictates separating yourself from the crowd. It requires objective thinking unbiased by influence or convention. It is a solitary road. It is a way of personal struggle, self-discipline, self-denial, austerity. It is only a special type person who will voluntarily follow this path. A prerequisite is a serious, thoughtful, inquisitive person in search of truth who wishes to change himself in accordance with the truth and understanding he finds. It involves the honest wish to be virtuous, the audacity to try, and strategy for making it work. Personal goodness and virtue arise from the practice of God’s teachings and obedience to conscience. Involved is the personal trait of courage — courage to go against the current, stand up for truth, stand alone against the crowd.
Oct 2013
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life